Mining machine



J. B. MAVOR MINING MACHINE Jan. 30, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Aug. 6, 1947 f At meu whNmN NWN Nm WN uN 1.55.11

Jan. 30, 1951 MINING MACHINE Filed Aug. 6, 1947 ...vlsl

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atented jan. 30, 11951A Y MININGV MACHINE John Bridie Mavor, Glasgow, Scotland, assignor to Mavor & Coulson, Limited, Glasgow, Scotland Application August 6, 1947, Serial N o. 766,628 In Great Britain May 14, 1946 Section 1, Public Law 690, August 8, 1946 Patent expires May 14, 1966 (Cl. 7562-8)V 7 Claims.

This invention relates to a machine for mining coal of a previously proposed type in use of which cutting of the coal at the coal face is eiected by a direct shearing action applied horizontally to the back of the coal face to shear the coal away; and the invention relates also to a method in which a machine of the type stated can be used.

An object of the invention is to provide in a mining machine of the type stated separately movable coal-shearing components and to provide for driving forward, rstly, one of these components in advance of the other and next, the other of the components to overtake the already advanced component, and to anchor each of the components in turn whilst the other is being driven forward.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the type stated for mining coal by shearing out from a coal face a strip of coal at an intermediate level and thereafter shearing off coal left outstanding above and below said level.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a mining machine of the type stated a doubleacting hydraulic unit associated with the coalshearing components, said unit to comprisea cylf inder and a ram which are connected to said components respectively. n

Another object of the invention is to combine the mining machine with a coal conveyor adapted to travel along a coal face in a coal mine, the stationary structure of the conveyor to have means for anchoring it to the mine door and to have provision whereby the machine can anchor itself to the conveyor structure and work its' way step-by-step along said structure as it operates upon the coal face.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show a. double-ended coalmining machine of the type stated in which the reaction to the forward thrust is taken by a conveyor. In the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation of the machine. Figure 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1, and Figure 3 is a section on the line 3 3 of Figure 2. Figures 4, 5 and 6 are a side elevation, an end elevation and a plan, respectively, of a combined plough and shovel element incorporated in the coal-shearing head of the machine.

Figure 7 is a side elevation similar to Figure 4 but showing a modification.

The coal-mining machine shown, being double-ended, comprisesr mainly two oppositely directed heads denoted generally by I and II respectively, a double-acting hydraulic unit, one

2 component of which is a ram incorporating piston rods I2 and I3 associated with the respective heads, and a body I comprising essentially a hydraulic cylinder I5, which is the other component of said unit and in which the piston I of the hydraulic ram works. The axis of the ram is horizontal and longitudinal. The piston rods I2 and I3 extend forwardly and rearwardly from the cylinder I5. At its outer end, each of the piston rods carries a more or less central wedge element il, which has a cutting edge i8 and may have a depth or thickness, varying between the limits say four inches and twelve inches, the depth being designed in accordance with the height of the coal face to be cut by the machine. The depth of the central wedge element represents a fraction of the height of the coal face A. The cylinder I5 at each end is attached by an extension I5A to a plough Aand shovel element I9 f which extends the full height of the face except that it has a gap to accommodate the wedge element I'I. This plough and shovel element has a substantially wedge-shaped plough presenting upper and lower edges 2l and 22 and extending upwards from the shovel 23, the edges of the plough being in thesame vertical plane as the leading edge I3 of the central wedge. The wedge I1 and gap 20 are located more or less centrally in height and the wedge operates through the gap.

In the example according to Figures 1 to 6, the plough is formed on top with a transverse plate 24 presenting a horizontal edge 25 which works in co-operation with the upper vertical edge 2I.

I Each of the piston rods I 2 and I3 has one of two crossheads 26, one at the forward end and one at the rear end of the cylinder body I4. Each crosshead 26 has a bar 21 which carries the iassociated central wedge I1. 4o

` The machine works in combination with a conveyor which, in the example shown is of the scraper type. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the conveyor comprises an endless series of trans- `verse Scrapers 28 which are carried by endless chains 29. The Scrapers of the upper run of the conveyor work along an'upper trough 30, and the Scrapers of the lower run return along a lower trough 3l, these troughs lbeing incorporated in the stationary structure of the conveyor. The

conveyor structure is securely anch-cred in its location on the mine oor B by a series of props or jacks 32 jammed between the floor B and the roof C, these props or jacks being mounted on the troughing 30, 3| of the conveyor structure.

In order that the machine can work along the has a fitting 31 for pivotal attachment of a pawll 38 also engaging with the rack-teeth on thesiclel of the conveyor.

Assuming the wedge element AI1-and the .ploughY and shovel element i9 at theorward end .of the machine (that is the right hand end when the machine is set as shown in Figures 1 and 2) to be initially together, oil under pressure is `ad,- mitted to the rear of the ram cylinder I5. The

cylinder body Hl is engaged by its pawl 38.with

the conveyor rack 34 while the crossheads 26 become disengaged. As a result, the wedge ele,- ment li is tnrust forward and shears a central strip-like section, or furrow, out of tn ecoalface A, loosening tne coal above and below. Next,

oil is admitted to tne front ofl the cylinder I5.V The crossneads 26 are then engagedby their pawl 36 with the conveyor racksanol the cylin-r der body ifi becomes disengaged, the cylinder body being thrust forward relative to the stationary piston lo, thus thrusting forward the plough and snovel element ,13,1 wnichnshears oil and gathers up the broken coal and directs it 'lhercylinder body is next held in position by the pawl 3S, the crossheads becoming freed, and

the'wedge element I1 driven forward so as to, make another shearing stroke, which is followedv by another gathering stroke, andso on.

In the example, as Figures 1 and2 show, a`-

30` laterally on to the conveyor, Figure 3 shows. V

part i is arranged for the time -being to extend forward from the forward` shovel 23, being adapted to bear against theoldcoalAfaceAr while the wedge element il iscoming forward, y

so as to resist the tendency which there may be for the machine to diverge inwardly from Ithe conveyor as a result of the vactionof the wedgel element.

Therefore it will be manifest that the methodf performed by the machine consists in .applying horizontal shearing by the cutterr I1 ina ver-- tical plane to the back of aA coalfaCeAat-an.. intermediate level in order to shear out frorrnv.I

the coal face a strip of' coal, and `thereafter -applying horizontal shearing by the cutters v21,-22f

to the back of the coal face in the same vertical` plane but above and below` saidwlevel in orderto;y

shear oi coal left outstanding.

The machine shown and-described .isvdouloleaA ended; sothat, having cut along the coalfacev in .one direction, it can cut back alongthe Aface .4 in the opposite direction. In thathevent, the left hand end of the machine as ,viewed in- Figures 1 and 2 becomes the forward end.y The pawls;

36 and 38 are detached,reversed and reattached to the respective fittings 35' and 31,' the` pawl 36: being attached to the fitting 35 on either of the` two crossheads 26. Moreover, theextension 39 is transferred to the opposite end of the machine.

The plough according to Figures 1 to 6 has a y continuous vertical edge 2|, 22 interrupted only bythe gap 2i). In the modification according to Figure 1, the leading edge `Vllvof the plough is serrated and slightly inclined baokwardly from bottom to top.

In the plough shown in ,the.drawingsthe.cut-y terp24 is provided to assistin breaking downthe coal above the wedge element I1. If desired, the cutter 24 may be omitted.

In the machine according to the drawings, the reaction to the forward thrust of the elements l1 `and i9 isdtaken by the jacks 32 ythrough the intermediary of the conveyor. If desired, the arrangement may be such that the reaction is taken by jacks direct, such jacks being applied tothe cylinder body i4 and the crossheads 26 alternately.

I claim:

1.v A- miningmachine for cutting coal from a coal face in a coal mine and comprising two coal-cutting elements, one of which presents upper and lower coal-shearing parts and the other of which presents an intermediate coal-shearingwedge, a double-acting hydraulic unit associated with said elements for propelling the machine along the coal face, said unit comprising a cylinder component and a ram component whichA components are alternately advanced-in the operation of the unit, beingconnected tov Said elements respectively, and means for anchoring said components alternately, the arrangement, being such that when said unit is operated,.rthe nrst of said components being anchoredhthe, second `of said components is advanced and the; wedge element is thrust forwards sozasdto shear out anintermediate. strip of coal. fromlthecoal face. and, the secondof said components...beingJ anchored,I the first of said, components isad-:l vanced Vso,- th at -saidl other elementA is ,forced -to follow the wedge element and shear oithe gripper,- and lower Ycoal left outstandingomthe coalefaeeg,

2. A mining machine vfor,cutting-coal ,from A coal face in a coal mine, said, rnachiney comprisff.. ing separately movable coal-,shearingelementsJ namelra main element with-upper and .mwencuttersand anintermediate elemenafadoubler,

aetinghvdreulic uritfmr prgpellinethe machine.;

ing separately., movable -coel-Shearme elemente.

respectively arranged atvdifferent levels-iadoub v acting-.hydraulic unit,ferrrmiwllinef,the.reachingY along the coal face, said,,unit-havingayhngle m component. :anda -ram @ornement engranger.- ranged touadvance saiol-I components alternately7.?A each in relation tothe .o-ther, va connectieri be-- tween one lof-,said,components andfjone of -,sa i d1 elements, aconnection `between-the otherofsaid i components and the other ofsaid'elemgnts, and means for anchoring each of said componentsgin its turn whilst thapther of saildcorrilponelntshf .-isadvanced with that coal-shearing element which is connected to it. 4. For use in combinationwith a coalconveyor which is adaptedto work along Vafcoal face inwa coal mine V.and which has `a .structure wit lr Vmeans Afor anchoring -thefstructureQtor the coal mine, a mining machineioncutting coal-A .frping, the coal face and comprising separatelymovablecoal-shearing elements, a double-acting hydraulicrg unitfor propelling the machine along the con veyor, said unit havingafcylinder componentry and a ram component and being arranged to advance said components alternately each in relation to the other, a connection between one of said components and one of said elements, a connection between the other of said components and the other of saidelements, and means for locking each of said components in its turn to said conveyor structure whilst the other of said components is advanced with that coal-shearing element which is connected to it.

5. For use in combination with a coal conveyor which is adapted to work along a coal face in a coal mine and whichhas a stationary structure, a mining machine comprising two alternately advancing components, cutting elements provided on the respective components, said elements including one adapted to project a substantial extent in advance of another, means for advancing said components alternately in order to propel the machine along the conveyor and in order also to force said elements alternately into the back of a coal face so that said projecting element shears out therefrom a strip of coal and said other element thereafter shears oi coal left outstanding, and means for locking each of said components in its turn to said conveyor structure while the other of said components is advancing.

6. For use in combination with a coal conveyor which is adapted to work along a coal face in a coal mine and which has a structure with means for anchoring the structure to the coal mine and with a longitudinal rack, a mining machine for cutting coal from the coal face and comprising coal-cutting elements, a double-acting hydraulic unit for propelling the machine along the conveyor, said unit comprising a cylinder component and a ramp component which components are applicable to said elements respectively and which components advance alternately in the operation of said unit, andpawls on said components co-operating with said rack to lock each of said components in its turn to said conveyor structure while the other of said units is being advanced to force its coal-cutting element into the coal face.

7. For use in combination with a coal conveyor which is adapted to work along a coal face in a coal mine and which has a stationary structure,

a mining machine for cutting Icoal from the coal face and comprising separately movable coalshearing elements, namely a main element with upper and lower cutters and an intermediate element, a double-actingr hydraulic unit for propelling the machine along the coal face, said unit including a ram component for advancing said intermediate element so that said intermediate element shears out at an intermediate level from the coal face a strip of coal and a cylinder unit for advancing said main element so that coal left outstanding above and below said level is sheared off by said upper and lower cutters, and means for locking each of said components to said conveyor structure whilst the other of said components is advancing.

JOHN BRIDIE MAVOR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

